[EtaEpsilove]

From experience at a university that was not SEC, but was very competitive (I went to Miami of Ohio), fines simply don't work.

There were many many chapters on campus that budgeted in fines to their recruitment budget. They knew in advance that they would probably get infractions, and just budgeted the appropriate amount of money. Additionally, our fines were like $25, so it really wasn't a huge deterrent.

IMHO, the social suspension works, and is something that chapters take very seriously. I'm not suggesting this for a chapter that turns a list in late. However, if there are chapters that consistently dirty rush, promise bids, the works, the only way for a chapter to take it seriously is if the punishment REALLY hurts. I think putting a chapter on social probation would be a big deal. I know at Miami, chapters laughed about the infraction fines, and they did NO good.

While I'm on it, I wish there were measures that could be taken against Rho Chis/Gamma Chis who completely violated procedure. When I was recruitment chair, during preference round we had higher than expected return rates. Due to this, our Panhel added on a extra party or two. Well, the Rho Chis weren't expecting this, and they didn't want to wait on the PNMs that were going to go to our additional or later parties. So, they had the girls fill out their preference cards and rank the chapters BEFORE THEY EVEN WENT TO OUR PREFERENCE CEREMONY!!! Then the PNMs were really confused about why they even were going to our party, since they'd already ranked us. They mentioned this to several of our actives, and when I found out I called our greek office. Both our current Panhel President and Greek Advisor told me there was nothing they could do about it, and I was making a big deal out of nothing . . . basically, they told me to get over it. I really wish there could have been consequences for those Rho Chis because that made me SOOOO mad.

But, long story short, at some campuses - fines do nothing; there need to be more substantial consequences.